Abstract

Federal statistical agencies face increasing complexity in our
information and technological environment for developing disclosure
avoidance and restrict access procedures to preserve the confidentiality
of survey data and protect individual privacy rights. Critical topics
for understanding the issues relating to preserving data confidentiality
and expanding public access to statistical data that will be discussed
include: Overview: legal issues relating to an agency's responsibility
and obligation to protect the confidentiality of the survey
data—Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, and State Laws;
Statistical Disclosure Limitation Techniques (SDL) for preserving the
confidentiality of published data in microdata files and tabular data;
the CDAC checklist on the potential disclosure risks of proposed data
releases; and Restricted Access Procedures.